(ICMEC) This report was undertaken within the scope of a grant from the U.S. Department of State, U.S. Embassy in Moscow, with a focus on the issues of missing and exploited children. This report reviews current legislation, policies, and best practices related to missing children in six countries: Belarus, Canada, Finland, Kazakhstan, Russia, and the United States. While not representative of a single region, ICMEC reviewed legislation, policies, and practices in Russia and the United States (per the terms of the grant) along with a sampling of countries nearby to each, including post-Soviet countries and others, in an effort to review a variety of approaches and possible scenarios. The report contains country-specific information – including legislation, policies, and practices – along with a gap analysis and recommendations for developing and strengthening existing mechanisms in each of these countries.Read More

(UKCCIS) Produced by the UK Counsel for Child Internet Safety, this cornerstone advice is for school heads and child protection designates or designated safeguarding leads on youth produced sexual imagery. Research found that 61% of secondary school head teachers reported this as a greater concern than smoking, drugs, obesity or offline bullying. This advice covers responding to disclosures, handling devices and imagery, assessing risk, reporting protocols, recording incidents, involving parents, supporting victims and victimizers, and preventative safeguarding and IT education. Resource lists, reporting forms, incident flow charts and staff training materials are included.Read More

...children have become even greater problems. For the first time in human history, millions of people have easy, virtually anonymous access to images of the sexual abuse of children online....

(ICMEC) This report, the second in the series, reviews current legislation, policies, and best practices related to missing children in ten Southeast Asian countries, as determined by their membership in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN): Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao People’s Democratic Republic (also referred to as Lao PDR or Laos), Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. This report contains a regional review and country-specific information – including legislation, policies, and practices – along with a gap analysis and regional recommendations for developing and strengthening existing mechanisms concerning missing and abducted children in Southeast Asia.Read More

(UNICEF East Asia and Pacific Regional Office) This report provides a benchmark of Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) Member States’ current efforts to effectively and comprehensively address child sexual abuse and exploitation, both online and offline.Read More

(ECPAT, Terminology and Semantics Interagency Working Group on Sexual Exploitation of Children) The purpose of this document is to provide all individuals and agencies working for the prevention and elimination of all forms of sexual exploitation and sexual abuse of children with guidance for the understanding and use of the different terms and concepts they may encounter in their work.  Read More

(Missing Children Europe) Safeguarding Unaccompanied Migrant Minors from Going Missing by Identifying Best Practices and Training Actors on Interagency Cooperation (SUMMIT) launched in October 2014 within the European Union. The objective of the SUMMIT project is to reduce the number of unaccompanied children who go missing. The project addresses how disappearances of  unaccompanied children are addressed in different EU Member States, and promotes successful strategies and behaviors related to prevention and response.Read More

(ICMEC, ROCIT) Learn more about how to play your part for a safer Internet. Created for Safer Internet Day 2016, this infographic provides tips to help children stay safer online.    Read More

(ICMEC, The World Bank, Associação dos Juízes Federais da Primeira Região do Brasil) In the framework of the Global Forum on Law, Justice and Development, ICMEC, The World Bank and Associação dos Juízes Federais da Primeira Região do Brasil published a Latin America regional study on legislative responses for the protection of children from violence through Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) in response to a growing concern over the use of ICTs to commit violence against children.

(ICMEC) In an effort to facilitate more efficient investigation, management, and resolution of missing children cases, a robust, national missing child framework is necessary.Read More

(ICMEC, The World Bank) In the framework of the Global Forum on Law, Justice and Development, ICMEC and The World Bank published an Asian regional study on legislative responses for the protection of children from violence through Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) in response to a growing concern over the use of ICTs to commit violence against children.Read More

...with Video (Lesson Links) Local and online help form template for parents (Prevention) Role of Mandatory Reporters (Prevention) Online Safety Education Action Plan and Audit (Audits and Online Safety Education)...

(Lanning and Dietz, 2014) Article dispels myths and addresses misconceptions about acquaintance molesters and enables youth-serving organizations to recognize barriers to identification and adoption of best practice in order to do the most the law allows rather than the least the law requires. Published online 23 May 2014 "Journal of Interpersonal Violence," 29, 2815-2838Read More

...Children, Adults May Increase Post COVID-19 Lockdown, Fear NGOs (India.com, 29 July 2020) Australia’s Coronavirus Outbreak Raises Alarm Over Online Child Sexual Abuse (Reuters, 21 July 2020) COVID: Increase in...

...online child sexual abuse materials, and help expand local collaboration. They act as forums for three main groups of participants – government agencies, commercial companies, multi-lateral and NGO partners –...

(ICMEC, Thomson Reuters) This report of the Digital Economy Task Force, led by ICMEC and Thomson Reuters, explores the benefits and risks of the emerging digital economy, and provides recommendations for policymakers, financial institutions, law enforcement, and others.Read More

(International Telecommunications Union) These updated guidelines for industry on child online protection provide advice on how the information and communication technology industry can help promote safety for children using the Internet or any technologies or devices that can connect to it.Read More

Individual country reports contain specific information including a review of legislation, policies, and practices concerning missing children in each country. Select individual country reports below for more detailed information. *All...

(ICMEC) This article reviews the international legal framework and supporting initiatives aimed at combating the abuse of information and communication technologies for purposes of child sex trafficking.Read More

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...autonomy, boundaries, and consent, identification of trusted adults, online safety and digital literacy, healthy relationships, healthy sexual behavior, staying safe away from home, commercial exploitation, and support for disclosing abuse...

(Barnardo’s) Research focused on running away, child sexual exploitation (CSE) and youth homelessness has documented an intrinsic relationship between running away and CSE. However, a review of this research literature reveals that none of the research projects addressing running away have explored the issue of CSE in depth. Previous research has started to explore the relationship between running away and CSE but there is need for research that explicitly explores this relationship. In recognition of this gap in learning, Barnardo’s and Paradigm Research developed a proposal to undertake an action research study to address the relationship between running away and CSE in England. This report presents their findings.Read More

...Youth Protection Audit (US) Local Direct Services Information Sheet Template (NSPCC) Online Safety Education Action Plan and Audit (eSafety Commissioner, AU) Recommended Screening and Assessment Practices (ITFCP) Self-assessment Process Online...

...for Sexual Purposes (ICMEC) Online Abuse Statistics Infographic (EVAC) Online Sexual Coercion & Extortion Definitions and Risks (Europol, multiple languages) Possible Warning Signs of Hazing (StopHazing) Perils and Possibilities: Growing...

(European Commission - Directorate-General for Justice) This study was conducted by Ecorys on behalf of DG Justice from July 2012-June 2013 to: (1) collect and analyze data, and develop the basis to improve the mechanisms involved when children go missing in the EU Member States; and (2) use and build on existing data and indicators to obtain sustainable, comparable data and indicators on missing children in all EU Member States covering 2008-2010 (and 2011 where available).Read More

Background checks may include a variety of verifications including identity, education, previous employment, professional licenses, social media, drug and health testing, credit and criminal checks. Background screening helps your organization...

(ICMEC) As part of the Declaration of Rome, a Global Health Coalition was created to help address child sexual abuse and exploitation as a public health crisis. This report details the Coalition’s strategy.Read More

AISA Child Protection Handbook Creating a Child Protection Team (CfC) Child Protection Assessment Checklist (AISA, ICMEC) Child Protection Policy Planning form (ITFCP, ICMEC) Key Resource Child Protection Self-audit Process (Keeping...

(ICMEC) This white paper reviews the reasons why the Russian Federation has delayed ratification of the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the Sale of Children, Child Prostitution and Child Pornography and the Council of Europe Convention on the Protection of Children against Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse and attempts to determine the primary challenges for bringing Russian law in line with these international instruments.Read More